When you’re choosing pizza for dinner, sometimes it’s nice to have a little something extra. The usual options include various types of bread and meatballs. Sometimes you can find more variety including fried mozzarella, poppers or fries. The addition of garlic butter and cheese is common as well. Basically, the majority of pizza sides are simple extensions of pizza.

When you’re craving some of that garlicky, cheesy goodness, consider swapping out a slice or two of pizza to make room for the side instead of doubling up on dough and cheese. In addition, consider small portions. Keep in mind the difference, with regards to saturated fat, sodium and calorie, between one piece and multiple pieces can be quite significant. Add that on top of your usual serving of pizza and the result can be a pretty substantial sized meal and most likely more than your body needs in one sitting. Alternatively, if you lean toward cheese and veggie topped pizzas, a meat-based side such as meatballs, can help balance out the nutritional profile of your meal by adding a good dose of protein.

Helpful hints: Here are a few ideas to keep in mind for the next time you order take out.

(Environmental Nutrition is the award-winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, concise English. For more information, visit www.environmentalnutrition.com.)

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